The Tetris Company has publicly distanced itself from a new game called “Build the Wall,” which was promoted on a website launched by the White House. In a statement released on Friday, a representative for the company confirmed that they were looking into the situation and stressed that the organization had no part in developing the project and never granted permission for the use of its brand or intellectual property. The company also took to social media to reiterate that they were not involved in the game’s creation and emphasized their commitment to fostering unity rather than division.
This response is consistent with the company’s established practice of aggressively defending its copyrights. Over the years, it has issued numerous demands to remove unauthorized clones and has pursued legal action against developers who replicated its signature style. While unlicensed versions of the puzzle game remain common, the company has also authorized official releases for a wide range of unusual platforms, from a specialized handheld device to a novelty item shaped like a large piece of fried chicken.
The legal basis for such disputes often hinges on the distinction between game mechanics, which are not protected, and the specific visual presentation of those rules. A court ruling from 2012 determined that certain visual components of the game, such as the dimensions of the playing field and the interface for showing the upcoming piece, could qualify for protection when used together. However, beyond the legal arguments, the White House may prefer to avoid a public confrontation with the owners of a cherished video game brand so close to the upcoming congressional elections.
To promote the new arcade section on its website, the White House’s social media team produced videos that imitated the classic boot screens of major gaming consoles from past generations. This is not the first time the administration has borrowed imagery from the gaming world, as it previously used visuals from a popular science-fiction shooter to support its military agenda. That earlier instance drew attention but resulted in no public comment from the game’s publisher, as noted by Polygon.